'Ernie Newton' bill aimed at corruption

Updated 2:16 pm, Monday, February 11, 2013

State senate candidate Ernie Newton at his headquarters on Barnum Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. on Tuesday August 7, 2012. Newton is in a three way Democratic primary for a seat in the state senate with incumbant Senator Ed Gomes and State Rep. Andres Ayala.

State senate candidate Ernie Newton at his headquarters on Barnum Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. on Tuesday August 7, 2012. Newton is in a three way Democratic primary for a seat in the state senate with incumbant

Coming to the Bijou Theater in Bridgeport - a film about "the Moses of his people," former state Sen. Ernie Newton. It's a story of Newton's "Redemption and Opportunity" in his losing bed to return to the Legislature.

Coming to the Bijou Theater in Bridgeport - a film about "the Moses of his people," former state Sen. Ernie Newton. It's a story of Newton's "Redemption and Opportunity" in his losing bed to return to the

HARTFORD -- A bill now before the General Assembly, inspired by former state Sen. Ernie Newton's latest arrest on campaign fraud charges, seeks to prevent candidates convicted of political corruption from receiving public campaign money.

"I don't believe you should be able to snooker the state after you stole money from the state," said state Sen. Edward Meyer, D-Branford, and sponsor of the so-called "Newton" bill.

Newton was convicted in 2005 for corruption during his 18 years as a senator from Bridgeport.

He was arrested again last month and charged with fraud after allegedly obtaining $80,550 in public campaign funds for an unsuccessful attempt last year to regain his old Senate seat.

"What this bill is saying is if you are convicted of a crime against the state, you should not get a financial benefit from the state. Up to $85,000 in campaign financing is a major benefit," Meyer said, referring to funding available through the state Citizens' Election Program.

But Meyer's bill is already raising concerns over civil rights and whether prohibitions should be levied against felons who have paid for their crime.

"It's up to the voters if they want him back," said Cheri Quickmire, director of the Connecticut Chapter of Common Cause, which tracks voting issues and advocates for good government.

Newton agreed, calling the bill discriminatory.

The Legislature's Committee on Government Administration and Elections this week officially "raised" the Newton bill, meaning what is now a concept will be drafted into legal language and a public hearing scheduled. Meyer is a vice chairman of the committee.

Newton campaigned for his old seat on a message of redemption and said Meyer's proposal, as written, would forever affect felons who served their time.

"If an ex-felon has a right to run for public office, he should be able to participate in every aspect of the game," Newton said. "It means you're penalized for the rest of your life."

Meyer said he's undecided whether the proposed law should have a statute of limitations. He said at a minimum the law should set a 10-year prohibition against receiving public campaign money.

The Citizens' Election Program provides up to $85,000 in taxpayer money to candidates for state office if they raise $15,000 in private contributions. The program is designed to level the playing field and take some special interest money out of state elections.

Newton was charged with reporting fraudulent private contributions in order to receive public money.

"The issue became so clear with Ernie Newton. It motivated me to introduce the bill. But it applies to anyone seeking public campaign funds," Meyer said.

Meyer successfully pushed a bill several years ago that allows the state to strip pensions from public officials convicted of crimes related to public service. That bill was motivated by former Gov. John Rowland's corruption conviction.

Quickmire said "it's difficult" to believe voters would want Newton back but said he served his time and had the right to again run for his seat.

"You don't say the guy gets some rights back. You get all of your rights back and beyond that it's up to voters," Quickmire said.

She also pointed out that existing election law worked in Newton's case because the State Elections Enforcement Commission uncovered his latest alleged wrongdoing and reported it to law enforcement officials. Newton has threatened a civil suit arguing he was unfairly targeted and given more scrutiny than other candidates because the outgoing EEC Chairman publicly opposed issuing him a campaign grant.

That chairman, Stephen Cashman, following Newton's arrest in January said the EEC was going to urge legislators to tighten restrictions on the campaign finance program.

An EEC spokesman said the agency was aware of Meyer's bill and planned to work on it with him

Meyer said he believes in redemption, but said that doesn't mean someone convicted of political corruption should benefit from public campaign financing.

"I get voting rights and that (felons) should get their civil rights back. This is different. You are trying to get a public benefit from a government you benefited from by criminal conduct," Meyer said.